Jan. 2, 2006, Herald Journal

The value in heart prints

By PAM FIECKE

As we are into the beginning of the new year, there are some who choose to take the time to write down a new year’s resolution for themselves.

In most cases, this involves the person wanting to make a change in their lifestyle or within themselves, to better something around them, or to try to achieve some type of a goal. It’s the first step, wanting an uplift on behalf of the human side of ourselves.

If we were all handed a mirror and asked to look into it, we would be face-to-face with ourselves. This may seem like an unusual thing to do, but it would give us the opportunity to visualize that we are a reflection of God.

If we were then asked to put our hand on the mirror, we would leave fingerprints. Whatever our hands touch, we leave fingerprints  on the walls, on the furniture, the TV screen, doorknobs, dishes, books, microwave, stove, etc. As we touch, we leave our identity.

If we were asked to give something beautiful to another person, there would be so many material things that we could give to them, to see and touch. We sometimes think that the greatest and the biggest things are the real answers to true happiness in life. Unfortunately, they’re not.

It’s the simplest and smallest things we do, with “great love,” that bring happiness to another person.

In the eyes of all humanity, life takes on a better meaning when we leave behind “heart prints.” Heart prints are acts of compassion, of understanding of love, of listening, of caring, and of kindness.

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.”

Heart prints are good actions forwarded onto another person and then nestled within their heart, bringing them joy, peace, happiness, and an outpouring of love that spreads from one to another.

We are all God’s extension cords, taking our light to the dark and empty places of our world, bringing an added touch of brightness for all the world to see.